The Argo Goes West

124, The Runaway Vice President

"I was in a hurry because of the sudden departure."

"I should have at least waited until the telegraph was restored before leaving."

Both Floyd Murdock and Joe Arbogast had a dull lunch in the dining car of the Argo. The food they were eating was only written as "beef stew" on the menu. But they knew it was Captain Sanderson's Commissary Beef Stew. It was good for eating around a campfire, but not in a luxurious Pullman dining car. On a table covered with a pure white tablecloth, served on a dinner plate, and eaten with a pure silver spoon, it tasted even worse. The death of Hercule Giraud was very regrettable to them. There was no replacement for him, and several soldiers took turns cooking the food.

After they finished their meal, they continued their conversation over a refreshing after-dinner drink.

"The dismissal of Captain Harris surprised me,'' Murdoch whispered.

"Really? I thought this would happen someday," said Arbogast. "Because he didn't have much of a presence."

"Well, that's right. Roosevelt was yelling at him from behind."

Suddenly the car shook. The drink from Murdoch's glass spilled over Arbogast's shirt across from him.

"Dammit!"

Arbogast moistened a handkerchief with a glass of water and began to remove the stain from his shirt.

"I'm sorry," Murdoch apologized and looked out the window. The speed accelerated, and the scenery flowed more and more.

"Why did the engineers accelerate? Are they in a hurry because the goal is near?"

"Chaaaaarrrge!"

At that time, it was Pseudo Teddy who was holding the throttle lever on the Argo locomotive, not the engine manager Chester McDade or his assistant Huw. He was driving a train for the first time in his life and was having a blast like a child.

"Excuse me, Mr. Vice President. Please do not accelerate further."

Chester was worried about an accident.

Pseudo Teddy's face, hands and clothes were covered with black stains. It was coal dirt. While the train was running, he came from car 3, his private car, through the coal car, to the locomotive. He ordered Chester to let him drive.

"Chaaaaarrge!"

Pseudo Teddy kept raising his voice in good spirits. Seeing that, Deke Anderson, Harpooner, wondered.

"He seems to have changed."

Chester thought so too. Perhaps he was drunk. Chester hoped that someone would notice his absence and pick him up.

"Eh?" Huw noticed a light ahead.

There were some men along the railroad tracks. Huw recognized them. Pat Garrett's Rough Riders. One of them waved a lantern to let the Argo know they were there.

"Rough Riders. Please stop."

Chester reached for the brakes. "Mr. Vice President, I'm going to stop the train now."

"No!"

Pseudo Teddy shook Chester's hand and shouted again.

"Chaaaaarrge!"

The Argo rushed past Pat Garrett's eyes at breakneck speed, releasing steam like a whale blowing the tide.

Slim said quietly as he saw the Argo going away. "They didn't recognize us."

"They were aware," replied Orpheus. "I saw the boy who was the engineer's assistant waving at us."

"Then why didn't they stop?"

"Maybe it was because Mr. Vice President was driving."

"Theodore Roosevelt was driving?" said the Mad Bomber in amazement. "Aren't you mistaken?"

"It's not a mistake."

"Well," the Mad Bomber shrugged. "I knew Roosevelt was an adventurer, but that was insane."

"What do we do?" Billy Chen asked Pat Garrett. "Are we chasing the Argo?"

"No," said Pat Garrett. "The railroad tracks are cut off at Stockton, so the Argo should be stuck there.It will take some time to recover. Let's head back to Sacramento and meet up with Bonnie and Lou. "

"Roger that."

Then they started moving towards Sacramento.